Supply circuit

ABSTRACT

A supply circuit is provided including a supply generation circuit coupled to a supply terminal. A voltage deviation detection circuit is adapted to detect a voltage deviation in an internal supply voltage. A current limiter arrangement is adapted to limit a current through the supply generation circuit to a predefined value.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a divisional application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/969,761, filed on Dec. 15, 2015, which claimsthe benefit of the filing date of German Patent Application No.102014119199.4, filed on Dec. 19, 2014, the contents of each of whichare incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to supply circuits for supplying avoltage and/or a current and to associated devices and methods.

BACKGROUND

Electronic circuits, for example integrated chips, often generate one ormore internal supply voltages based on an external supply voltage. Forexample, for generating one or more internal supply voltages one or moreDC/DC converters may be used. A part of the circuit or chip supplied bysuch a voltage converter or other internal power supply is also referredto as a voltage domain. An internal supply voltage of such a voltagedomain may be monitored for example to detect an undervoltage, i.e. thesupply voltage being below a predetermined threshold voltage. In such acase, the circuit may be brought to a specific state in some cases, alsoreferred to as reset state or error state (referred to simply as resetstate in the following).

In some cases it is desirable to signal the presence of this reset stateto other entities, for example to a system coupled with the electroniccircuit. This may be of particular interest in cases where the system ison a higher infrastructure level than the electronic circuit. Forexample in some automotive applications, for such signaling a currentinterface may be used, and a predefined current level may be used tosignal a reset state or an error state e.g. to an ECU as the higherlevel entity or system.

However, in some cases it may not be possible to provide the predefinedcurrent in the reset state in conventional applications. For example,when an undervoltage occurs due to a short circuit, a current caused bythe short circuit may increase a current above the predefined currentlevel.

It is therefore an object to provide possibilities for maintaining adesired current level, for example a predefined reset level, in such anerror case.

It is a further object to provide possibilities for signaling e.g. anerror, fault or failure to an entity coupled to or in communication withthe electronic circuit, such that the coupled entity can be reliablyinformed about error within the electronic circuit.

SUMMARY

In various embodiments described herein, circuits, devices, and methodsare provided, which are described in the present disclosure includingthe claims. The dependent claims define further embodiments. Featuresdefined in one or more claims of one of the aspects may also beapplicable to other aspects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a device according to anembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a supply circuit according to anembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a supply circuit according to afurther embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following, various embodiments will be described in detailreferring to the attached drawings. These embodiments serve illustrativepurposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of thepresent application.

For example, while an embodiment may be described as comprising aplurality of features or elements, this is by way of illustration only,and other embodiments may comprise less features or elements and/oralternative features or elements. In yet other embodiments, additionallyor alternatively further features or elements may be provided. Featuresfrom different embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments.Also, a variation or modification described with respect to one of theembodiments may also be applicable to other embodiments unless notedotherwise.

Various elements shown in the drawings are not necessarily to scale witheach other, and the spatial arrangement of the various elements andvarious implementations may be different to the spatial arrangementshown in the drawings. Elements shown in the drawings may be replaced byother elements performing essentially the same function withoutdeparting from the scope of the present application.

Any electrical connections or couplings between elements shown in thedrawings or described herein may be direct connections or couplings,i.e. connections or couplings without additional intervening elements(for example simple wires or metal layers), but may also be indirectconnections or couplings with one or more additional interveningelements, as long as the general purpose of the connection or coupling,for example to transmit a certain kind of signal, voltage, currentand/or information, is essentially maintained.

Terminology used herein may correspond to terminology as used inInternational Standard ISO 26262 related to functional safety for roadvehicles. For example, the term error may refer to any discrepancybetween a computed, observed or measured value or condition and thetrue, specified or theoretically correct value or condition. In thepresent application, an error may for example be present when a voltageis below a specified voltage range. An error may for example be due to afault.

A fault may refer to an abnormal condition that can cause an element oran item (e.g. a sensor) to fail. A failure may refer to a termination ofthe ability of an element to perform a function as required.

A safe state may refer to an operating mode of an item without anunreasonable level of risk. Examples may include a normal operatingmode, a degraded operating mode or a switched-off mode. It may berequired that upon detection of a fault an entity (e.g. item, systemetc.) transitions to a safe state within a fault tolerant time interval.

In some embodiments, a supply circuit may comprise one or more supplygeneration circuits, e.g. voltage converters, to generate one or moreinternal supply voltages based on an external supply voltage.Furthermore, an interface circuit coupled to an external supply voltageterminal may be provided. The interface circuit may be disabled upondetection of an undervoltage or other voltage deviation in the one ormore internal supply voltages. A current limiter arrangement may beprovided operably coupled to the supply generation circuits. The currentlimiter arrangement in some embodiments may limit a current through thesupply generation circuits to a predefined value, for example apredefined reset value.

The one or more supply generation circuits may for example comprisevoltage converters like DC/DC converters. The interface circuit may beadapted to provide various current levels through the supply voltageterminal.

Turning now to the figures, in FIG. 1 a device 10 according to anembodiment is illustrated. Device 10 may be implemented on a single chip(e.g. chip die), possibly together with further circuit parts, but mayalso be implemented using several chips and/or discrete elements. Insome embodiments, device 10 may be a sensor device, for example anacceleration sensor, a pressure sensor or a magnetic field sensor, butis not limited thereto. In some embodiments, device 10 may be used insafety-relevant applications. In some embodiments, device 10 may be usedin automotive applications.

Device 10 comprises a first terminal 11 and a second terminal 12. Insome implementations, first terminal 11 may be a terminal for receivingan external positive supply voltage, and second terminal 12 may be aground terminal. Furthermore, first terminal 11 may be used by device 10to provide a current signal, for example by drawing a predefinedcurrent. For example, to transmit digital signals in an implementation acurrent of 7 mA may correspond to a value of logical 0, and a current of14 mA may correspond to a value of logical 1, although this is only anexample and other values may be used as well. It should be noted thatwhile in the embodiment of FIG. 1 second terminal 12 is illustrated asbeing connected only to circuit 15, second terminal 15 may additionallybe coupled with other elements of FIG. 1, for example current limiter13, supply generation circuit 14, undervoltage detection circuit 16and/or interface circuit 17.

In FIG. 1, a supply generation circuit 14, comprising for example avoltage converter like a DC/DC converter, is coupled to first terminal11. Supply generation circuit 14 is configured to generate an internalsupply voltage for a circuit 15 based on an external supply voltagereceived at terminal 11. For example, supply generation circuit 14 maycomprise any conventional type of voltage converter like a switched modepower supply (SMPS), for example comprising a buck converter, a boostconverter and/or a buck/boost converter. Other kinds of converters, forexample transformers, may also be used. Circuit 15 may be any kind ofcircuit to be supplied by the supply generation circuit 14 andimplementing a functionality of device 10. For example, in case device10 is a sensor device, circuit 15 may for example comprise a sensorcircuit. For example, in this case circuit 15 may comprise Hall sensingelements or magneto-resistive sensing elements in the case of a magneticfield sensor or a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) in the case of anacceleration sensor or pressure sensor. These, however, are merelyexamples, and circuit 15 is not limited to any particular kind ofcircuit.

Circuit 15 may use an interface circuit 17 to provide a desired currentlevel through first terminal 11. For example, in some embodiments astand-by current consumption of circuit 15 may be 3.5 mA. To output acurrent level of 7 mA corresponding to logical 0, circuit 15 may draw anadditional 3.5 mA via interface circuit 17, and to provide a currentlevel of 14 mA corresponding to logical 1, circuit 15 may draw another10.5 mA via interface circuit 17. These values serve only as examples,and other current levels may also be used. In other embodiments, insteadof current-based signaling voltage-based signaling may be used, andinterface circuit 17 may be configured to provide a desired voltagelevel at first terminal 11.

In some embodiments, besides current levels for logical 0 and logical 1,a further predefined current level may be provided as a reset level. Thereset level may for example indicate a state where device 10 isdeactivated and/or has encountered an error. It will be appreciated thata deactivation may be caused in response to the encountered error or asa safety measure in circumstances where the error indicates the circuitis no longer working with sufficient reliability, for example where theerror indicates a fault, failure or possible fault or failure of thecircuit. In some embodiments, this predefined further current level maycorrespond to the above-mentioned stand-by current consumption ofcircuit 15 via supply generation circuit 14, for example 3.5 mA.

The device 10 of FIG. 1 may further comprise a safety circuit 16monitoring an output voltage of supply generation circuit 14. Forexample, safety circuit 16 may comprise an undervoltage detectioncircuit 16 which is configured to detect when a voltage output by supplygeneration circuit 14 falls below a predetermined threshold. Forexample, undervoltage detection circuit 16 may be implemented based on asimple comparator or based on a window comparator, but is not limitedthereto. In case safety circuit 16 detects an error in the outputvoltage of supply generation circuit 14 (for example in case anundervoltage is detected), in the embodiment of FIG. 1 safety circuit 16may disable interface 17.

In some embodiments, for example in a fault-free state only the stand-bycurrent is drawn by circuit 15, which as explained previously maycorrespond to a predefined reset level. Therefore, by detecting acurrent corresponding to the reset level, an external system 18 may beinformed of the reset state, in this case for example the disabled stateof interface 17. In automotive applications the system 18 could beimplemented as an electronic control unit (ECU).

However, some faults causing an error to be detected by safety circuit16, for example an undervoltage, may also influence the current drawn bycircuit 15. As an example, faults causing a detection of an undervoltagemay include a short circuit fault, which would cause circuit 15 to drawadditional current without further measures. Short circuits may forexample be caused by so-called random hardware failures. The additionalcurrent could change the current sensed through first terminal 11 bysystem 20, such that system 18 may not recognize the reset statecorrectly, as the current level is higher than the predefined errorstate current.

To prevent such a misinterpretation of a current level, in theembodiment of FIG. 1 a current limiter 13 is provided operably coupledto supply generation circuit 14. Current limiter 13 may comprise anyconventional current limiting circuit, for example based on a resistoror a current mirror. Current limiter 13 may be configured to limit thecurrent through a section of the supply circuit. Typically the sectionof the supply circuit is coupled to the current limiter and the currentlimiter 13 is configured to limit a current flow through the section. Inthe embodiment of FIG. 1 the supply generation circuit 14 corresponds tothe section through which the current flow is limited to a predefinedlevel. The predefined level may correspond to the predefined stand-bycurrent or reset level mentioned above. When in such a configurationwith a current limiter as shown in FIG. 1 a fault like a short circuitcondition occurs, still only the predefined level of current is drawn(as it is limited by current limiter 13) via supply generation circuit14. In this way, by providing current limiter 13, in some embodiments itmay be ensured that a predefined reset current level is output also incase of short circuit failures or other errors which influence thecurrent consumption of circuit 15. Therefore, system 18 may e.g.recognize a reset state correctly by sensing the predefined current.This may be important to fulfill safety requirements, e.g. as defined inISO 26262. For example, as explained above when a fault occurs, a systemor other entity may be required to transition to a safe state. Toinitiate such a transition, it may be required that the system isinformed of the fault. By providing the current limiter, in embodimentsreliable communication of the reset state (e.g. due to an error, whichmay be caused by a fault) to the system is ensured, and the system canthen take appropriate measures, e.g. to transition to a reset state.

It should be noted that in some embodiments current limiter 13 may alsocause undervoltage detection circuit 16 to react faster in case of ashort circuit and similar errors. As mentioned, errors like undervoltageerrors could without the presence of current limiter 13 increase thecurrent consumption of circuit 15. Supply generation circuit 14 may thentry to meet this required additional current consumption, which,however, is limited by current limiter 13. This may cause a voltagegenerated by supply generation circuit 14 to break down faster than in acase without current limiter 13, which in turn may cause a fasterdetection by safety circuit 16. In some embodiments, this may then leadto a faster deactivation of interface circuit 17 and/or a fasterpresence of the predetermined error current level at first terminal 11.Therefore, a failure may be detected faster than without current limiter13 in some embodiments.

It should be noted that in the embodiment of FIG. 1 interface 17 servesonly as an example for a circuit or circuit part to be disabled in casea safety circuit like circuit 16 detects an error. Generally, inembodiments, upon detection of an error one part (e.g. 17) of a circuitcoupled to a terminal (e.g. 11) may be disabled, and a current limitermay limit a current drawn by the other part of the circuit(e.g. 14, 15,16) to a predefined current value to ensure reliable communication of anerror, fault and/or failure. In other embodiments, no disabling of acircuit part may be performed, and the current limiter may still limitthe total current drawn to ensure reliable communication of an error,fault and/or failure.

While a single supply generation circuit 14 is shown in FIG. 1, in otherembodiments more than one supply generation circuit may be provided, forexample to provide different supply voltages or separate supply voltagesfor different sections or portions of circuit 15. Examples will beillustrated next with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

In FIG. 2 a supply circuit is illustrated which receives an externalsupply voltage via a terminal 20. In some embodiments, terminal 20 maycorrespond to first terminal 11 of FIG. 1. The external supply voltagefor example may be a positive supply voltage. Via terminal 20, theexternal supply voltage is then provided to a supply voltage line 21. Aninterface circuit 25 may draw a current I_interface from supply voltageline 21. A function of interface circuit 25 may correspond to a functionof interface circuit 17 of FIG. 1. In particular, interface circuit 17may provide different current levels through terminal 20. Thesedifferent current levels may correspond to different logical levels(e.g. logical 0 or logical 1) that may be used for signaling.

Furthermore, the external supply voltage on supply voltage line 21 maybe converted to an internal analog supply voltage by an analog supplygeneration circuit 23 and/or to an internal digital supply voltage by adigital supply generation circuit 24. The internal analog supply voltagemay be used to supply analog parts of a circuit like circuit 15 of FIG.1, and the internal digital supply voltage may be used to supply digitalparts of such a circuit. In other embodiments, more than two differentsupply voltages may be generated. Analog supply generation circuit 23and digital supply generation circuit 24 each may comprise a voltageconverter like a DC/DC converter to convert the external supply voltageto a desired internal supply voltage. Circuits 23 and 24 may beimplemented using any conventional voltage conversion techniques, forexample those already mentioned with respect to FIG. 1.

Furthermore, an analog safety circuit 26 is coupled to an output ofanalog supply generation circuit 23. Safety circuit 26 may detectvoltage deviations, for example an undervoltage (e.g. a voltage below apredetermined threshold) or an overvoltage (e.g. a voltage above afurther predetermined threshold), and may deactivate interface circuit25 upon detection of a voltage deviation condition, for example anundervoltage and/or an overvoltage of the internal analog supplyvoltage. Furthermore, a digital safety mechanism circuit 27 may beprovided (optionally implemented as a digital circuit) monitoring anoutput voltage of digital supply generation circuit 24 to detect avoltage deviation like an undervoltage or an overvoltage. It should benoted that providing a digital safety mechanism circuit monitoring theoutput of digital supply generation circuit 24 may be of particularimportance as generally, safety features may be comparatively easy toimplement in digital circuit portions by programming or designingelements like digital signal processors accordingly, compared toimplementations in analog circuit portions. However, providing a correctsupply voltage may still be crucial, as without such a correct supplyvoltage the complete digital circuit portion may fail.

Upon detection of such a voltage deviation, digital safety mechanismcircuit 27 may deactivate interface 25. Safety mechanism circuits 26, 27may for example be implemented using comparators. In some embodiments,disabling interface 25 may imply that after disabling interface 25essentially does not draw current from terminal 20. In some embodiments,deactivating interface 25 may serve to signal an error (e.g. the voltagedeviation) to a system coupled to terminal 20. In other embodiments,additionally or alternatively to disabling interface 25 other measuresmay be taken. Examples include disabling one or more circuits portionscoupled to terminal (e.g. including circuit portions shown in FIG. 2) orcommunicating an error to an external entity, e.g. a system, via othermeans than terminal 20 (e.g. via other terminals or lines). Otherexamples include using correction mechanisms to correct output currentvalues output e.g. at terminal 20, e.g. using override/default values,or implementing other mechanisms that may compensate the voltagedeviation.

A current drawn by circuit portions supplied by analog supply generationcircuit 23 is labeled I_ana in FIG. 2, and a current drawn by circuitportions supplied by digital supply generation circuit 24 is labeledI_dig. Therefore, in the embodiment of FIG. 2 a current drawn viaterminal 20 corresponds to I_ana+I_dig+I_interface. The currentI_ana+I_dig may also be referred to a “standby current” and correspondsto a current that is drawn when I_interface is zero, e.g. when interface25 is disabled. During normal operation, the current I_ana+I_dig maycorrespond to a predefined reset level indicating that a device suppliedby the supply circuit illustrated in FIG. 2 is inactive or in an errorstate. To provide other signal levels, corresponding currentsI_interface are added to the current I_ana+I_dig. For example, thepredefined reset current may be 3.5 mA, and I_interface may add either3.5 mA or 10.5 mA for total levels of 7 mA (for example corresponding tologic low) and 14 mA (for example corresponding to logic high). Suchcurrent levels are for example used in some automotive applications.However, these numerical values are merely examples, and other currentlevels may be used in other implementations.

As explained previously with respect to FIG. 1, errors like randomhardware failures may for example cause a short circuit condition toappear. As an example, in FIG. 2 a short circuit to ground via aresistor 28 is illustrated. This leads to an additional current I_shortdepending on the resistance R_short of resistor 28 (which in turndepends on where the error occurs and in which manner). Without furthermeasures, the current I_short would add to the overall current, toresult in a total current I_ana+I_dig+I_short. Furthermore, such a shortcircuit may lead to a breakdown of a voltage generated by analog supplygeneration circuit 23, which may be detected by analog safety mechanismcircuit 26 leading to a deactivation of interface 25. However, withoutfurther measures in this case a current could be drawn by the circuitwhich exceeds the above-mentioned predefined reset level by the currentI_short. This in turn may cause a system coupled to terminal 20 not torecognize the reset condition correctly. In fact in case of a shortfailure any predefined current level may no longer be correctlyrecognized due to the additional current I_short.

To prevent incorrect recognition of predefined current levels, in theembodiment of FIG. 2 a current limiter 22 is provided coupled betweenvoltage line 21 and supply generation circuits 23, 24 as shown. Currentlimiter 22 for example may be implemented using a current mirror or aresistor, but is not limited thereto. Current limiter 22 may be designedto limit the current I_ana+I_dig to a predetermined current level, forexample the above-mentioned predetermined reset level. Thispredetermined current level may correspond for example to a stand-bycurrent consumption. With current limiter 22, even when a short circuitas illustrated in FIG. 2 occurs, the predetermined current level isprovided at terminal 20, and therefore the reset condition (for exampleindicating an error) may be recognized e.g. by an external system. Inother words, provision of the current limiter 22 provides the resetcondition (e.g. predefined reset current) as communicable to an externalsystem coupled to the supply circuit of FIG. 2 via terminal 20, inparticular also in case of short failures or other failures increasingthe current drawn via terminal 20.

Moreover, provision of current limiter 22 may improve the detection ofundervoltage conditions by safety mechanism circuits 26, 27, as wasexplained for undervoltage detection circuit 16 of FIG. 1.

In the example supply circuit of FIG. 2, current limiter 22 is arrangedbetween terminal 20 and supply generation circuits 23, 24. In otherembodiments, instead of a common current limiter 22 as shown in FIG. 2acting on both supply generation circuits 23, 24, individual currentlimiters may be associated with the supply generation circuits 23, 24.In some embodiments, a sum of the individual current limits imposed bythe individual current limiters may then correspond to a predeterminedcurrent level, for example a reset level. Such individual currentlimiters may be provided between terminal 20 and supply generationcircuits 23, 24 or also at an output of supply generation circuits 23,24. A corresponding example embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 3.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, elements and components also present in theembodiment of FIG. 2 bear the same reference numerals and will not bedescribed again in detail. Instead, to provide a concise descriptiononly differences between the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3 will bediscussed in detail. Variations and modifications discussed withreference to FIG. 2 are also applicable to the embodiment of FIG. 3.

Compared to the embodiment of FIG. 2, in the embodiment of FIG. 3current limiter 22 is omitted, and current limiters 30, 31 are provided.Current limiter 30 is associated with analog supply generation circuit23, and current limiter 31 is associated with digital supply generationcircuit 24. In FIG. 3, current limiters 30, 31 are provided on an outputside of supply generation circuits 23, 24. In cases where an externalsupply voltage provided at terminal 20 is higher than the internalsupply voltages provided by supply generation circuits 23, 24, thismeans that current limiters 30, 31 are placed on a low voltage side. Insuch an embodiment, circuit components designed for a correspondinglower voltage may be used to implement current limiters 30, 31, whichmay for example lead to an area saving and/or facilitate implementation.In other embodiments, current limiters 30, 31 may be provided betweenterminal 20 and supply generation circuits 23, 24. Current limiters 30,31 may be implemented as discussed above, for example using currentmirrors or resistors. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, a sum of a currentlimit of current limiter 30 and a current limit of current limiter 31may correspond to a predefined current level, for example a reset levelor other level used to indicate an error condition and/or a resetcondition. Providing the respective current limits to meet the error orreset current level will render the error or reset state communicable tothe external system as explained above, e.g. with respect to FIG. 2.

Therefore, in embodiments generally a current limiter arrangement may beprovided, which may comprise one current limiter as shown in FIG. 1 or 2or a plurality of current limiters as shown in FIG. 3, and an overallcurrent limit of the current limiter arrangement may for examplecorrespond to a predefined current level like a reset current level,and/or may correspond to a stand-by power consumption of a circuit to besupplied via one or more supply generation circuits.

In FIG. 4, a method of operating a current supply circuit according toan embodiment is illustrated. The method may be implemented usingdevices and circuits as discussed with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, butmay also be implemented using other devices and circuits. While themethod of FIG. 4 is illustrated and will be described as a series ofacts or events, the order in which these acts or events are described isnot to be construed as limiting, and other orders, including paralleloccurrences of acts or events, are also possible.

At 40, an error at a supply generation circuit, for example a DC/DCconverter, is detected. For example, at 40 the method may comprisedetecting an undervoltage at an output of the supply generation circuit.

At 41, a response measure in response to detecting the error isperformed. For example, in an embodiment a current interface may bedisabled. In normal operation, the current interface may be used toprovide desired current levels at an external supply voltage terminal,for example to transmit data.

In other embodiments, additionally or alternatively to disabling thecurrent interface other measures may be taken. Examples for such othermeasures include disabling one or more circuit portions or communicatingan error to an external entity, e.g. a system. Other examples includeusing correction mechanisms to correct e.g. current values being output,e.g. using override/default values, or implementing other mechanismsthat may compensate or mitigate the error.

At 42, in the error condition a current is limited to a predefined errorlevel (also referred to as reset level), e.g. 3.5 mA, which may be usedfor signaling the error condition to an external system. Othertechniques may also be employed.

The above-described embodiments serve merely as examples, and otherimplementations are also possible.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A circuit, comprising: a supply terminalconfigured to receive a first supply voltage; a safety circuitconfigured to detect an error associated with a deviation of the firstsupply voltage; and a current limiter circuit configured to limit acurrent drawn through the supply terminal, which would otherwise exceedto a predefined current value, to the predefined current value when thesafety circuit detects the error to enable an external system toidentify the error via identification of the predefined current valueupon the deviation of the first supply voltage.
 2. The circuit of claim1, further comprising: a first circuit portion coupled to the supplyterminal; and a second circuit portion coupled to the supply terminal,wherein the safety circuit is configured to disable the first circuitportion when the safety circuit detects an error, and wherein thecurrent limiter circuit is configured to limit a current drawn throughthe supply terminal by the second circuit portion.
 3. The circuit ofclaim 2, wherein the first circuit portion comprises a currentinterface.
 4. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the safety circuit isconfigured to detect an error in a second supply voltage, the secondsupply voltage being based on the first supply voltage.
 5. The circuitof claim 1, further comprising: a supply generation circuit that isconfigured to supply the first supply voltage to the supply terminal. 6.The circuit of claim 5, wherein the limiting of the current to thepredefined current value enables a detection, via the external system,of the error by identifying the existence of the predefined currentvalue while the supply generation circuit supplies the first supplyvoltage deviating from a predefined voltage range.
 7. The circuit ofclaim 1, further comprising: a current interface circuit coupled to thesupply terminal, the current interface circuit being configured toprovide an adjustable current through the supply terminal.
 8. Thecircuit of claim 7, further comprising: a sensor circuit coupled to thecurrent interface circuit, the sensor circuit being configured to usethe current interface circuit to supply the adjustable current throughthe supply terminal, wherein the predefined current value of the currentlimiter circuit corresponds to a stand-by current consumption of thesensor circuit.
 9. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising: a supplygeneration circuit that is configured to supply the first supply voltageto the supply terminal, wherein the current limiter circuit is providedon a low voltage side of the supply generation circuit.
 10. The circuitof claim 1, further comprising: a supply generation circuit configuredto supply the first supply voltage to the supply terminal, wherein thesafety circuit is configured to detect an undervoltage in the firstsupply voltage as the detected error.
 11. A method, comprising:receiving, via a supply terminal, a first supply voltage; detecting, viaa safety circuit, an error associated with a deviation of the firstsupply voltage; and limiting, via a current limiter circuit, a currentdrawn through the supply terminal, which would otherwise exceed apredefined current value, to the predefined current value when the erroris detected to allow an external system to identify the error viaidentification of the predefined current value upon the deviation of thefirst supply voltage.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:coupling a first circuit portion to the supply terminal; and coupling asecond circuit portion to the supply terminal.
 13. The method of claim12, further comprising: disabling, via the safety circuit, the firstcircuit portion when the error is detected; and limiting, via thecurrent limiter circuit, a current drawn through the supply terminal bythe second circuit portion.
 14. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising: detecting, via the safety circuit, an error in a secondsupply voltage, the second supply voltage being based on the firstsupply voltage.
 15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:supplying, via a supply generation circuit, the first supply voltage tothe supply terminal.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:detecting, via the external system, the error by identifying theexistence of the predefined current value while the supply generationcircuit supplies the first supply voltage deviating from a predefinedvoltage range.
 17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:providing, via a current interface circuit, an adjustable currentthrough the supply terminal.
 18. The method of claim 17, furthercomprising: supplying, via a sensor circuit, an adjustable currentthrough the supply terminal using the current interface circuit, whereinthe predefined current value of the current limiter circuit correspondsto a stand-by current consumption of the sensor circuit.
 19. The methodof claim 11, further comprising: supplying, via a supply generationcircuit, the first supply voltage to the supply terminal; and providingthe current limiter circuit on a low voltage side of the supplygeneration circuit.
 20. The method of claim 11, further comprising:supplying, via a supply generation circuit, the first supply voltage tothe supply terminal; and detecting, via the safety circuit, anundervoltage in the first supply voltage as the detected error.